Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT403
2008-03-31 10:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: FM MEREDOV, BRIEFLY, TERSELY
how-toVZCZCXRO9036 PP RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHAH #0403 0911054 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 311054Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0526 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3570 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1388 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1255 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 1824 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2372
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000403
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO AJ TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FM MEREDOV, BRIEFLY, TERSELY
REF: A. ASHGABAT 0396
B. ASHGABAT 0295
C. BAKU 0225
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000403
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO AJ TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FM MEREDOV, BRIEFLY, TERSELY
REF: A. ASHGABAT 0396
B. ASHGABAT 0295
C. BAKU 0225
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(D)
1. SBU) Charge met with Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov for
a half hour on March 31. Several issues are reported
separately.
THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP
2. (C) Noting this was the first opportunity they had to
speak since Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Diplomacy
Ambassador Steven Mann visited Ashgabat February 28 (reftel),
Charge asked for Meredov's evaluation of the status of the
bilateral relationship and what he would see as next steps.
Meredov replied, drawing out each word, "Yes, we need to
analyze this carefully. We need to see. Let me think about
this carefully. We can talk about it later."
AZERBAIJAN
3. (C) Charge noted he has had good reports about Meredov's
early March visit to Baku and asked for his evaluation of the
Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan relationship. Meredov said
Turkmenistan has just named its ambassador to Azerbaijan, and
he will, in fact, arrive this week to reopen the Turkmen
embassy. He added, "Azerbaijan, after all, is a neighbor,
and we have to have normal relations." Charge asked if
Meredov thought there was a possibility that President Ilham
Aliyev might visit Ashgabat in the first half of this year.
Meredov responded, "The relationship is developing with its
own dynamic." Charge reminded Meredov the United States
stands ready to help with the Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan
relationship. We can use quiet diplomacy if that would be
helpful, or, if Turkmenistan prefers, we can keep our
distance. Meredov replied, "Understood."
ASHGABAT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
4. (C) Charge briefed Meredov on his March 26 meeting with
Minister of Education Annaamanov and asked if Meredov could
help speed up the bureaucratic process of registering the
Ashgabat International School (reftel A). Meredov said he
would call the Minister of Justice to try to speed up the
process and added, "We will bring this to conclusion."
TURKMENBASHI AMERICAN CORNER
5. (C) Charge asked what can be done to get permission to
reopen the American Corner in the Caspian port city of
Turkmenbashi. Meredov replied he had appreciated the
Charge's proposal in January to form a working group to
resolve "the real estate question." He said he would place a
few phone calls to see where things stand because he would
like to bring this, too, to conclusion. "In our lifetime?"
the Charge asked. For the first time in the meeting, Meredov
cracked a smile.
6. (C) COMMENT: This was not the Meredov we had come to
know. Whereas he had been expansive, even if usually
didactic in the past, this time he was terse. In the short
meeting, he took off his glasses three times to rub his eyes,
and he kept vibrating his right leg almost like a nervous
tic, something we had not observed him do before. We note
the relationship with Meredov was essentially normal until
almost the end of February. It is too early to draw any firm
conclusions, but we note President Putin had a long,
unscheduled pull-aside with President Berdimuhamedov during
the CIS Informal Summit on February 21 (reftel C). We would
like to know what was discussed. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO AJ TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FM MEREDOV, BRIEFLY, TERSELY
REF: A. ASHGABAT 0396
B. ASHGABAT 0295
C. BAKU 0225
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(D)
1. SBU) Charge met with Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov for
a half hour on March 31. Several issues are reported
separately.
THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP
2. (C) Noting this was the first opportunity they had to
speak since Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Diplomacy
Ambassador Steven Mann visited Ashgabat February 28 (reftel),
Charge asked for Meredov's evaluation of the status of the
bilateral relationship and what he would see as next steps.
Meredov replied, drawing out each word, "Yes, we need to
analyze this carefully. We need to see. Let me think about
this carefully. We can talk about it later."
AZERBAIJAN
3. (C) Charge noted he has had good reports about Meredov's
early March visit to Baku and asked for his evaluation of the
Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan relationship. Meredov said
Turkmenistan has just named its ambassador to Azerbaijan, and
he will, in fact, arrive this week to reopen the Turkmen
embassy. He added, "Azerbaijan, after all, is a neighbor,
and we have to have normal relations." Charge asked if
Meredov thought there was a possibility that President Ilham
Aliyev might visit Ashgabat in the first half of this year.
Meredov responded, "The relationship is developing with its
own dynamic." Charge reminded Meredov the United States
stands ready to help with the Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan
relationship. We can use quiet diplomacy if that would be
helpful, or, if Turkmenistan prefers, we can keep our
distance. Meredov replied, "Understood."
ASHGABAT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
4. (C) Charge briefed Meredov on his March 26 meeting with
Minister of Education Annaamanov and asked if Meredov could
help speed up the bureaucratic process of registering the
Ashgabat International School (reftel A). Meredov said he
would call the Minister of Justice to try to speed up the
process and added, "We will bring this to conclusion."
TURKMENBASHI AMERICAN CORNER
5. (C) Charge asked what can be done to get permission to
reopen the American Corner in the Caspian port city of
Turkmenbashi. Meredov replied he had appreciated the
Charge's proposal in January to form a working group to
resolve "the real estate question." He said he would place a
few phone calls to see where things stand because he would
like to bring this, too, to conclusion. "In our lifetime?"
the Charge asked. For the first time in the meeting, Meredov
cracked a smile.
6. (C) COMMENT: This was not the Meredov we had come to
know. Whereas he had been expansive, even if usually
didactic in the past, this time he was terse. In the short
meeting, he took off his glasses three times to rub his eyes,
and he kept vibrating his right leg almost like a nervous
tic, something we had not observed him do before. We note
the relationship with Meredov was essentially normal until
almost the end of February. It is too early to draw any firm
conclusions, but we note President Putin had a long,
unscheduled pull-aside with President Berdimuhamedov during
the CIS Informal Summit on February 21 (reftel C). We would
like to know what was discussed. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND